close 1 of 6

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as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted

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close

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verb

1
as in to shut
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening be sure to close the gate when you leave

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as in to close (down)
to stop the operations of the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

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as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we'll close the assembly with the singing of our national anthem

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close

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adverb

close

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noun (1)

as in courtyard
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) a garden in a close at the center of the complex

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close

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noun (2)

closeness

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noun (3)

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as in proximity
the state or condition of being near we were surprised by the closeness of everything to our downtown loft

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of close
Adjective
Charlotte and Raffi see these minor challenges—and their ability to work through them—as proof of how close all of the friends have become. Rhaina Cohen, The Atlantic, 11 May 2025 Ivanka Trump may live among us in Miami Beach, but don’t get too close. Madeleine Marr, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2025
Verb
Gates for the Colonial Country Club open at 6:30 a.m. daily and close 30 minutes after play. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2025 The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Adverb
Many thriving long-term couples maintain certain boundaries that, counterintuitively, bring them closer. Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025 In the first of Trier’s films to operate as a family portrait instead of a more focused individual profile, the Borg house will come to assume the gravity of a dying star that gives meaning to the constellation of people who are pulled ever closer towards its orbit. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 21 May 2025
Noun
As Memorial Day approaches and National Military Appreciation Month comes to a close, here’s a timely fact: the largest private funder of veteran employment in the United States is a video game. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 22 May 2025 Haase, like Pollard, kept in contact with Vaughn after their days at KU came to a close. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for close
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close
Adjective
  • The 124th Running of The Dinner Party Stakes A crowded field turned toward the final stretch of the 1 1/8-mile turf run, the last race before the evening’s main event, before Fort Washington pulled away with Cash Equity surging.
    Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
  • Instead of calling bringing employees back into crowded offices, the administration should be using telework as a way to close the budget shortfall, said Service Employees International Union Local 1000, in a Thursday statement.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Expect to hear more news about Rodgers in the near future.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
  • Meanwhile, artists like Doja Cat, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus and A$AP Rocky are all expected to drop albums in the near future.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Horned Frogs gave up two late runs in a narrow 2-1 loss to Arizona in the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament on Saturday night at Globe Life Field.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2025
  • The Formula 1 season moves to its most iconic venue this weekend, with the eighth round of the championship taking place around the narrow streets of Monaco.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Caltech's intimate size and intense focus on scientific research and engineering create exceptional outcomes for graduates, particularly those entering technology and research sectors. 10.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • How to visit Deep inside the park is Ultima Thule, an intimate safari-style lodge accommodating 14 guests across five cabins.
    Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Plus, each drawer opens and closes smoothly thanks to the silent metal slide construction.
    Bridget Degnan, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • There were silent Sunday night dinners at restaurants and essentially no contact with any extended relatives.
    Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • The review process is careful for a reason – and perhaps the only real method of speeding it up is the one Zeldin has proposed: reassigning staff so there are more people to share the work.
    Jeffrey Gore, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
  • Hillman and the department urged residents in the area to be extra careful this time of year.
    Brooke Baitinger, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Moore sprinted down the field in celebration of his game-saving play with 29 seconds left that gave UCLA an unexpectedly breathless 27-20 victory.
    Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Jerry Coyne has a post up which critiques an extremely breathless review of a new book, Epigenetics Revolution.
    Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Aug. 2011
Adjective
  • Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • To be more accurate, residents in 69 towns rolled out their trash bins every week and never thought about where it was headed and one town received it all.
    Sarah McCoy, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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